Searching for the Bay Area’s best old school phone booth

I often wonder how Superman would manage in the cell phone era.* Would he lift up manhole covers and change in the sewers? Use the Old Navy quick change dressing rooms? Carry around tokens for San Francisco’s bathroom kiosks, hoping there isn’t a heroin deal or sex transaction inside?

Or would he just spend a lot of free time at the Lawrence Hall of Science?

I discovered this excellent Clark Kent-ready phone booth (pictured above) in the basement level, during a recent visit to the Berkeley science center with my kids, and aunts Susie and Susan. A week later, Chronicle comrade Kevin Fagan wrote an excellent piece (in the Chronicle and on the premium site) about the decline of the pay phone in the Bay Area.

Now we’re searching for the Bay Area’s best old school pay phone. If you regularly use, pass by or live inside a pay phone that has retained its classic feel over the years, please contact me atphartlaub@sfchronicle.com. You can also message me on Twitter @PeterHartlaub with the hashtag #SupermanPhone.

Bonus points if you take a photo and send that too. Bonus points if you cc Kevin at kfagan@sfchronicle.com. Bonus points if you use the old school phone to leave me a message at work (415-777-7413). We’re defining “booth” loosely. If you own a diner with a working pay phone bolted on the wall that was installed during the Truman administration, please send us an e-mail. The phone must be in operational condition — if there’s no dial tone or Mayberry-style operator when you lift the receiver … disqualified. (UPDATED! We’re now welcoming tips for non-working pay phones as well.)

We’ll post the best entries on The Big Event. If one of these phones has a good enough back story, one of us might write something in the Chronicle.

The Lawrence Hall of Science phone sets the bar high. I was initially drawn by the old school “Bell Systems” logo next to the lowercase light blue “phone” lettering, which was a common sight on pretty much every street corner in the late 1970s and 1980s. The folding door on the Lawrence Hall of Science phone booth was in good shape, and I was impressed with the lack of graffiti. I’m sure it had something to do with our location in a science center, but I’d like to think people have respect for the history.

I’ve included a gallery of telephones (below) from an earlier Let’s Go to the Morgue! feature on The Big Event. UPDATED! I’ve also included an excellent and very existential pay phone video by my colleagues Pete Kiehart and Luanne Dietz, which ran with Kevin’s story.

Looking forward to your entries.

*The “Superman” movie series addressed the modern phone booth dilemma by having Clark Kent change in a revolving hotel door, after running across this new-fangled pay phone. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a clip on YouTube.

PETER HARTLAUB is the pop culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and founder/editor of The Big Event. He takes requests. Contact him at phartlaub@sfchronicle.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeterHartlaub. Follow The Big Event on Facebook.

Photo: Chronicle file

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Nov. 23, 1990: Note how this San Francisco driver uses his left ear, just so everyone can see his awesome high-tech car phone. I like to imagine Gordon Gekko is on the other line, standing on a beach screaming something about Bluestar Airline. less

Nov. 23, 1990: Note how this San Francisco driver uses his left ear, just so everyone can see his awesome high-tech car phone. I like to imagine Gordon Gekko is on the other line, standing on a beach screaming ... more

Photo: Chronicle file

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Aug. 24, 1955: Kevin Wallace speaks on a videophone to San Francisco Mayor Elmer Robinson on a videophone. I had no idea videophone technology existed in the 1950s. An even bigger shock? Robinson was a Republican. less

Aug. 24, 1955: Kevin Wallace speaks on a videophone to San Francisco Mayor Elmer Robinson on a videophone. I had no idea videophone technology existed in the 1950s. An even bigger shock? Robinson was a ... more

Photo: Duke Downey / The Chronicle

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Dec. 12, 1971: A happy couple awkwardly holds their baby so grandparents in Sweden can see him. I'm guessing this videophone call cost about $45 per minute in 1971. Now excuse me while I give my iPhone a hug.

Dec. 12, 1971: A happy couple awkwardly holds their baby so grandparents in Sweden can see him. I'm guessing this videophone call cost about $45 per minute in 1971. Now excuse me while I give my iPhone a hug.

Photo: Chronicle file

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Oct. 10, 1989: Ralph Dickinson and Francis Murphy use a videophone at UC Berkeley. I know the era's wrong, but I'm still betting a week's pay that Murphy on the right was saying "far out ..." while this photo was taken. less

Oct. 10, 1989: Ralph Dickinson and Francis Murphy use a videophone at UC Berkeley. I know the era's wrong, but I'm still betting a week's pay that Murphy on the right was saying "far out ..." while this photo ... more

Photo: Steve Ringman / The Chronicle

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1906: Telephone operators at 445 Bush Street after the Earthquake and fire. The switchboard was damaged, but communication was restored quickly.

1906: Telephone operators at 445 Bush Street after the Earthquake and fire. The switchboard was damaged, but communication was restored quickly.

Photo: Chronicle file

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Feb. 16, 1958: The telephone switchboard at the 430 Bush Street long distance center. I'm getting a bit of a totalitarian sweatshop vibe from this photo.

Feb. 16, 1958: The telephone switchboard at the 430 Bush Street long distance center. I'm getting a bit of a totalitarian sweatshop vibe from this photo.

Photo: Chronicle file

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Oct. 18, 1972: Telephone operators Ann Chappelone and Molly Rissotto in San Francisco's phone operations center. This was the last switchboard photo with the Mayberry/"Please connect me to Aunt Bea"-style cables. less

Oct. 18, 1972: Telephone operators Ann Chappelone and Molly Rissotto in San Francisco's phone operations center. This was the last switchboard photo with the Mayberry/"Please connect me to Aunt Bea"-style ... more

Photo: William S. Young / The Chronicle

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March 7, 1967: Gail Anglim works a new pay phone on the corner of Eddy and Powell in SF. Note the space-age design ... and the rotary dialer.

March 7, 1967: Gail Anglim works a new pay phone on the corner of Eddy and Powell in SF. Note the space-age design ... and the rotary dialer.

Photo: Stan Creighton / The Chronicle

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Feb. 11. 1972: Charlotte Love calls from the first touch tone pay phone installed in San Francisco. I'll admit to a little crush on Ms. Love. Remember when SF residents actually made an effort to look nice when they went outside? less

Feb. 11. 1972: Charlotte Love calls from the first touch tone pay phone installed in San Francisco. I'll admit to a little crush on Ms. Love. Remember when SF residents actually made an effort to look nice ... more

Photo: Chronicle file

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May 31, 1966: Karen Sutherland and Sharon Thatcher model the new cable car-shaped phone booths in San Francisco. I want one of these as a planter.

May 31, 1966: Karen Sutherland and Sharon Thatcher model the new cable car-shaped phone booths in San Francisco. I want one of these as a planter.

Photo: Chronicle file

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May. 24, 1972: Johnny Gunn and Richard Bauman use the magnetic crank box on top of an old telephone at the Silver Queen Saloon. I'm betting the phone is gone, but I'm hoping both of these guys are still there.

May. 24, 1972: Johnny Gunn and Richard Bauman use the magnetic crank box on top of an old telephone at the Silver Queen Saloon. I'm betting the phone is gone, but I'm hoping both of these guys are still there.

Photo: Vincent Maggiora / The Chronicle

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Oct. 24, 1992: Ray Basa makes a call on his sweet cell phone while fishing near Antioch. I love the Hawaii hat. Basa is No. 2 behind Ms. Love on my list of people in this gallery I'd most like to party with.

Oct. 24, 1992: Ray Basa makes a call on his sweet cell phone while fishing near Antioch. I love the Hawaii hat. Basa is No. 2 behind Ms. Love on my list of people in this gallery I'd most like to party with.

Photo: Deanne Fitzmaurice / The Chronicle

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Sept. 28, 1987: Investment banker Michael Yancey uses a cellular car phone in his Porsche while driving through SF -- completely unaware that this would become illegal 25 years later, and The Magic Pan would go out of business. less

Sept. 28, 1987: Investment banker Michael Yancey uses a cellular car phone in his Porsche while driving through SF -- completely unaware that this would become illegal 25 years later, and The Magic Pan would ... more

Photo: Steve Ringman / The Chronicle

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April 15, 1951: This is the amazing Dialaphone, which was a precursor to touch tone phones. Described in the press release as "compact and attractive," it could dial pre-programmed numbers by cutting perforations in tape. less

April 15, 1951: This is the amazing Dialaphone, which was a precursor to touch tone phones. Described in the press release as "compact and attractive," it could dial pre-programmed numbers by cutting ... more

Photo: Chronicle file

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Oct. 2, 1963: Marianne Armanino works an automatic dialer. I chose this photo because it was taken by Joe Rosenthal, who shot the Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima photo. I'm guessing his blood wasn't racing as much on this assignment. less

Oct. 2, 1963: Marianne Armanino works an automatic dialer. I chose this photo because it was taken by Joe Rosenthal, who shot the Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima photo. I'm guessing his blood wasn't racing as ... more

Photo: Joe Rosenthal / The Chronicle

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March 11, 1974: This is the Code-a-Phone 700, an early commercial answering machine. It weighed more than 23 lbs, held only a few messages and phone companies rented them out for just a little less than a car payment. less

March 11, 1974: This is the Code-a-Phone 700, an early commercial answering machine. It weighed more than 23 lbs, held only a few messages and phone companies rented them out for just a little less than a car ... more

Photo: Larry Tiscornia / The Chronicle

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Nov. 6, 1971: Behold the Bell Systems Trimline -- a telephone that had the rotary dialer in the handset! When people saw these amazing phones, I'm sure they were thinking "Butler robots must only be a year or two away." less

Nov. 6, 1971: Behold the Bell Systems Trimline -- a telephone that had the rotary dialer in the handset! When people saw these amazing phones, I'm sure they were thinking "Butler robots must only be a year or ... more

Photo: United Press International

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Oct. 16, 1976: The caption says that Western Electric was making money refurbishing old pay phones -- including some with the graffiti intact. (Including the word "Hippie.") This was undoubtedly inspired by that episode of "The Brady Bunch." less

Oct. 16, 1976: The caption says that Western Electric was making money refurbishing old pay phones -- including some with the graffiti intact. (Including the word "Hippie.") This was undoubtedly inspired by ... more

Photo: Chronicle file

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Nov. 30, 1977: Phones from the Pacific Telephone line. The caption says the push-button phones were "by lease only." Note the random foliage on the upper right. In my experience, every photo taken in 1977 includes a ficus in the corner. less

Nov. 30, 1977: Phones from the Pacific Telephone line. The caption says the push-button phones were "by lease only." Note the random foliage on the upper right. In my experience, every photo taken in 1977 ... more

Photo: Chronicle file

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June 19, 1983: In my experience, anything involving a novelty bass hanging on the wall NEVER GETS OLD. Bad news is the only problem. Could you imagine hearing about a death in the family on this? I'd keep a second boring phone for serious calls. less

June 19, 1983: In my experience, anything involving a novelty bass hanging on the wall NEVER GETS OLD. Bad news is the only problem. Could you imagine hearing about a death in the family on this? I'd keep a ... more